Well, Vanek has deserved some criticism for disappearing game after game, I guess.

Whatever.. Do you guys think he will come around this season again? Will he still get 30 goals?
Will he step up tonight against NYI? ... Hopefully.

I don't think he will achieve 30 goals this season, no. He may hit 20+. I don't know what he needs to break out to be honest. Last 2 seasons proved he can do it with the existing lineup, is it the system or is it just a slump?

_________________
Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

I think Vanek will get a goal tonight.. I think he may start to score more.. dont quote me but we know how he can be.. lets hope he doesnt become a Kotalik and score only when we are up by 5

_________________
The Board Drunk.

It seems that the defenses have adapted for Vanek's deflection move.

_________________
"...they came down into the stands and asked if I knew how to do play by play. I said...No. But. I'll take a shot at it if you want".- Rick Jeanneret

if i were darcy...i'd make that trade in a heartbeat

_________________
"It is more about them than it is about the team...Cannot play with them, cannot win with them, cannot coach with them. Can't do it. I want winners. I want people that want to win." - Mike Singletary

Tyler Myers - Future captain of the Buffalo Sabres, and future Norris Trophy Winner

Manning the machine gun on the Tyler Myers Bandwagon - just in case any teams have an idea of prying him away from us (3 GM's shot already)

Connolly/Roy - 2 goals in the last 47 playoff games

so much better....just kidding.

Haha, but 1/8th is less than 1/ so it IS a whole lot better. haha

_________________

How about rewind.. Vanish to Edmonton for 7.5M

Yup, as much as I like Vanek, this is a NO-brainer. If today were tomorrow yesterday, it would be hard to even justify signing him for 7.5 much less passing up 4(good) 1st rounders . I was talking about this at work, and basically you could probably drop those 4 picks on a team to get 1st overall if you wanted to ensure yourself a quality player. Could have maybe had Stamkos or Tavares for half the money, not to mention money to re-sign either D or D(if he had a hint the sheet was coming).

Oh well, he's ours, and that's it. We can only hope the system finds a way to mold to his strengths.

Teams have made this mistake before. Why bother trading Vanek, why not trade to bring someone in to fit Vaneks Strengths.
Personally, I think he needs a RWer, fast, with hands that can maintain puck control while Vanek comes into the offensive zone. Max just didn't work out, but there are RWers out there that are decent.
Or
A center with made skills to match him with. I would love Eric Staal. Since he isn't available, a player of his skill and caliber could light Vaneks lamp.

Chemistry is important to. It seems that none of our top 6 have any. Is it Ruff's system, or is it the players? Thats the real question.

_________________
Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

It seems pretty clear that we are going to go with the "play defensive until we need to go buck-balls" philosophy. When it comes time to go buck-balls, is when Ruff wants Vanek to appear. It seems this system has very little window of success for Vanek, but I'll bet he finds it. He's a a smart guy.

I don't believe it's his system since the rest of the team seem to be doing fine with it. I believe it's the players and I think that's why he moved Goose up last night for a while.

_________________

It is the system. Last year we had M i l l e r + Vanek, Roy doint very well. This year our top 6 are sucking big time. Our system is based around D first.

Ruff will never ever get it: TV is not a Z type player, he's the man in front of the net to score ugly but important goals. Roy, Pommers aren't backcheckers either. Miller alone will not be enough for a deep po run (IF we make them) so no we aren't a cup contender this year.

Just look at Vanek and Roy after they missed, both pissed like hell. Maybe just maybe Ruff HAS TO realize that they aren't backcheckers and never ever will be.

_________________
Sloppy seconds = 6 games "clean" headhunting = nothing
it's obvious Bettman and Campbell are Pens cocksuckers

Roy and Pommers both backcheck on a consistent basis. I have no idea what you're talking about.

Frankly, I don't think the problem is Ruff at all. It's the league. Every day we get closer and closer to pre-lockout conditions. Clutching, grabbing, obstruction. The only thing that's still consistently being called is the midsection hook.

Most of our top 6 are built to function in the 05-06 and 06-07 versions of the league where time and space were common and frequent. They now need to adapt their game back to the clutch and grab era.

I agree Squanto, with a small exception. Ruff is trying to generate and use a forecheck a little more than in the past. Nobody in the top six is big enough or tough enough to be a good forechecker. They are all more effective coming through the nuetral zone and carrying the puck over the blueline. The last two seasons they were able to generate chances and points, albeit along with plenty of turnovers.

This season they are keeping things more simple, relying much more on dump-ins and a forecheck. This is better overall for the team, but most definitely not the top six and their point production. Each of these players needs somebody that can work the boards, and that's why I suggested back in November to mix up the lines in order to have a playmaker-scorer-grinder combo on each line. Ruff has done that to some extent, with some success. The botton line though is that the top six don't have the physicality to play a system that relies so much on a forecheck.

You can argue that the NHL is back to clutch and grab, and that if the Sabres tried to free wheel more they would just get caught up at the blue line or sooner. I think that's true also, and I don't know that there is a system or tactic out there right now that Ruff could try that would find a happy medium. Again, that's why I'd like to see more aggressive play from the d-men to pinch and support the forecheck. This would keep the gameplan as is, but help the top six maintain puck possession and hopefully generate more chances.

Hopefully Ruff can figure something out, because the NHL shows no signs of trying to free up ice and open up the game again. The top six are under contract for next season and beyond, except for MacArthur. Based on the above, and with Gerbe and Ennis knocking on the door, I don't expect Mac to be back. He may even be decent trade bait at the deadline. Luke Adam and Zach Kassian have to grow up and develop real quick for this problem to go away.

I have to be honest Vanek is lazy and maybe about 5 of his goals were when it didn't matter at all.

_________________
"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

Thi team can forecheck with the best of them. There has been games where this top 6 and team have held the puck in the offensive zone for minutes and through a few line changes.

This team can all backcheck also.

Vanek is snakebitten this year, but you can't always have a great year, and even the best players have an off year.

_________________

I remember one year the Kelowna Rockets won the Memorial Cup and their leading scorer for the season had 49 pts in a 72 game season. Our goalie Kelly Guard posted a 1.56 gaa and a .925 save percentage with 44 wins and 13 shutouts. They did it by playing within the system. There is no doubt in my mind that TV's offensive numbers are down because of the system we play now. But guess what? We keep winning so who fuckin cares how many goals he has. Would you rather he have 20+ right now and we be in a 5-8 spot rather than a 1-4(in the standings that is)?
And would you guys really trade Vanek for Phaneuf? I know you guys are east coast so maybe you havent seen him play but he isnt worth Vanek. Phaneuf will come in and you'll all see how bad he can play. He can play good but he gets lost to much and tries to go for the big hits too often. Then we'll see Vanek play for Calgary a team in desperate need of goals. They'll let Vanek play his own way and he'll finish the season with 35 or more. Than we'll all be screaming for Darcy's head. Basically what I'm trying to say is if it ain't broke don't fix it.

_________________
Driver of the Tyler Ennis Bandwagon, Ridin' shotgun on the Tyler Myers Bandwagon, chillin' on the Luke Adam Bandwagon


Eh

Tip ins and deflections are fickle. They come in bunches.

_________________
Proud LGBTQQ Individual

I think Vanek's numbers are down because he isn't scoring on the PP. That, and because he seems like he gets every bad bounce in the world.....